JM 35 Sedan
Well-known member
Mike, I was going thru some old pics of a 2010 Barner's Bash gathering in Florida, and found one of your Dad . I could post here or send to your email.
Optima....
- Thread starter petehoovie
- Start date
Mike, I was going thru some old pics of a 2010 Barner's Bash gathering in Florida, and found one of your Dad . I could post here or send to your email.
tubman
Well-known member
I've checked a few sources and thet seem to still be widely available (though I have no need to actually order one). They are, however, about $50 higher in price than the last one I bought. Things like this always make me wonder what's really going on.
"Drbrown" - from what I can see on this and other car forums I frequent, Optima seems to be far and away the most popular 6 volt battery nationwide. Just about every 6 volt vehicle I see at shows and cruise-ins has one. Also, wouldn't warranty issues be handled by the selling entity? From what I've read, warranty support for Optima's varies greatly between suppliers, which seems to indicate that it wouldn't be a manufacturers issue.
"Drbrown" - from what I can see on this and other car forums I frequent, Optima seems to be far and away the most popular 6 volt battery nationwide. Just about every 6 volt vehicle I see at shows and cruise-ins has one. Also, wouldn't warranty issues be handled by the selling entity? From what I've read, warranty support for Optima's varies greatly between suppliers, which seems to indicate that it wouldn't be a manufacturers issue.
JM 35 Sedan
Well-known member
Don't panic folks, we'll figure something out without having to convert to a too tall 6V 2HF lead acid or 12V 
Last edited:
FortyNiner
Well-known member
The warranty is always the manufacturer's issue. Customer contact practices vary by reseller.
tubman
Well-known member
I think major suppliers such as Summit (where I bought my last one) and a few others may handle it differently to protect heir reputations.
Drbrown
Well-known member
About year or two ago Optima and Amazon went head to head on the warranty issue. Optima was not honoring their batteries sold by Amazon. I understand Optima "caved" and subsequently elected to honor batteries sold by Amazon. There are many state and commercial laws and reg's that apply to manufacturers being liable for their promises.
True some retailers will "cover" for Optima and other manufacturers that "go south" but if they don't have an optima to replace your existing one, what are you going to get ? Could be something of good quality but not equal to the original ?
As to supply, these's certain a supply of units sitting in warehouses and on the back shelves, but that will run out. And yes, why won't the sellers boost prices when they see an advantage.
True some retailers will "cover" for Optima and other manufacturers that "go south" but if they don't have an optima to replace your existing one, what are you going to get ? Could be something of good quality but not equal to the original ?
As to supply, these's certain a supply of units sitting in warehouses and on the back shelves, but that will run out. And yes, why won't the sellers boost prices when they see an advantage.
JSeery
Member Emeritus
Tinker
Well-known member
Good to know. Supply and demand. Sometimes short supply creates demand. Guess I'll pick one up this yr as an extra anyway.
Most resales departments defer warranties to the manufacture. Not always, depends on the deal they made with the manufacture on the buy, I would think most buy in bulk and resell. Always had good luck with napa over the other chain stores. Personal opinion on a chain overall, always pleased by them in this area.
Walmart will take anything back. Not sure if it matters if you bought it there or not.... too big to care or know. Kidding!!! but they do take anything back without question, might just ship it back to the manufacturer also. Not a huge fan but do use it once every month or two.
Most resales departments defer warranties to the manufacture. Not always, depends on the deal they made with the manufacture on the buy, I would think most buy in bulk and resell. Always had good luck with napa over the other chain stores. Personal opinion on a chain overall, always pleased by them in this area.
Walmart will take anything back. Not sure if it matters if you bought it there or not.... too big to care or know. Kidding!!! but they do take anything back without question, might just ship it back to the manufacturer also. Not a huge fan but do use it once every month or two.
Last edited:
rotorwrench
Well-known member
Another thing that may be in play is the current trade war going on. I don't know where the Optima 6-volt batteries are manufactured but it may be outside the USA.
I remember back when you could get a battery rebuilt. They remove the tar from the top and pull the old eaten up plates out for scrap. They cleaned the old hard rubber case up and installed a new set of plates. Put the tar back on top and presto, a newly rebuilt battery. Add the proper amount of electrolyte then charge up to battery voltage capacity. They would send the old scrap plate sets back to the manufacture which would melt them down and make new ones. This just makes way too much sense is a world where the scrap batteries are now sold overseas by the boatload for reprocessing/recycling.
I remember back when you could get a battery rebuilt. They remove the tar from the top and pull the old eaten up plates out for scrap. They cleaned the old hard rubber case up and installed a new set of plates. Put the tar back on top and presto, a newly rebuilt battery. Add the proper amount of electrolyte then charge up to battery voltage capacity. They would send the old scrap plate sets back to the manufacture which would melt them down and make new ones. This just makes way too much sense is a world where the scrap batteries are now sold overseas by the boatload for reprocessing/recycling.
Last edited:
JM 35 Sedan
Well-known member
£©π€®¢√¶℅™
Last edited:
slowforty
BANNED
An interesting thought on buying a battery. I talked to a Battery retailer, he said to buy the cheapest six volt battery you could find. That battery has a lower and shorter number of
plates in it. Therefore when used in a car that is not driven a lot, the battery will take longer to sulfate because the plates are shorter and fewer in number than a top of the line battery stuffed with plates so the rating is higher. Just a thought.
plates in it. Therefore when used in a car that is not driven a lot, the battery will take longer to sulfate because the plates are shorter and fewer in number than a top of the line battery stuffed with plates so the rating is higher. Just a thought.
Tinker
Well-known member
I have to agree here. I'm sure cheaper batteries are quite fine. I used to get about 2-3yrs out of regular cheap 6v batteries in the heat of Florida. Bought my first optima about 8-9 yrs ago. I'm still using it. I'll see how it does in Mn (I pull them and store inside, charge maybe once or twice or the winter), Hope it last another 8yrs.